• Larry Holmes says UK boxers are dominating because of their height and size
• He says the American heavyweights are 'little' and that's why they are losing
• He thinks Tyson Fury is 'giant' and says there should be a 'size limit' on boxers
• Nevertheless, Holmes says that the best generation of heavyweights was his
• He also admits to taking advantage of Ali and fighting Mike Tyson for money
Former professional boxer Larry Holmes says fighters from the UK are dominating the heavyweight scene due to their height and size, claiming 'American guys are little now'.
Holmes achieved legendary status in the boxing world after completing a sensational career that saw him defeat Muhammad Ali in 1980 and hold the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983.
Holmes remain adamant that his era of fighters would have dominated the likes of Tyson Fury but revealed his surprise at the size of the 6ft 9inch Gyspy King and joked that there should be a 'size limit' on the heavyweight division.
Speaking about the size of the current athletes in the heavyweight division on the Gary Newbon Sports Show with Jewson, Holmes said: 'American guys are little now.
'Those guys coming from over there (UK), they seem like they’re giants! They are taking over. I can’t blame them. They are big boys and they are making something out of themselves.'
The 72-year-old went on to joke: ‘There should be a law or a limit on the size you can be. Maybe 6ft 5 max. These guys are growing man. I don’t what they are eating but they are eating something that is making them grow.’
However, the former professional boxer - who competed from 1973 to 2002 - did claim his generation were the best in the business.
He said: 'The greatest fighters that have ever fought were those that boxed in the 70’s and when I was fighting. You had the Muhammad Ali’s, the Kenny Norton’s, the Joe Frazier’s.
'You had all the great guys out there. If you beat those guys, that’s how you got your recognition. I had to do that to get my recognition. I had to beat these guys.'
Holmes went on to speak about the time he beat Muhammad Ali in a temporary arena erected outside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on October 2, 1980.
Holmes had ascended to the WBC heavyweight title, one of the several belts which had been in Ali's possession previously, and was becoming acknowledged as a great world champion in his own right.
However, Holmes - who was making the eighth defense of the WBC heavyweight title - said he 'took advantage' of Ali as he had been employed as the heavyweight's sparring partner between 1971 and 1975.
He said: 'I took advantage of them. Joe Frazier let me spar with him. Muhammad Ali let me spar with him. I knew these guys. So, when it came to fighting them, I already knew what I had to do. That how I became the champion.'
Holmes' fight with Ali was dubbed as 'The Last Hurrah' by promoter Don King and saw the Easton Assassin dominate The Greatest for ten rounds before Angelo Dundee called for the fight to be stopped.
Holmes went on to retire after losing a 15-round split decision against Michael Spinks at Las Vegas April 19, 1986. However, he returned to action to face Mike Tyson in a blockbuster bout.
Their fight lasted just eight rounds before Tyson won by technical knockout. Speaking about the fight, Holmes said: 'I thought I could beat Mike Tyson at that stage because I was ready to fight on.
'I came out of retirement. Everyone was calling me saying you could beat Mike Tyson; you could beat Mike Tyson. They were putting it in my head. I hadn’t had a fight for two years.
'I knew Mike Tyson was going to beat me and I put that in my head. And, I still said let’s go and do it. Even if I don’t win, I still get £3million dollars out of the deal. Then we went to work, and he beat me. He stopped me.'
Almost nothing in the article is correct. Holmes did NOT retire after he lost to M. Spinks. There was a rematch, not to mention other fights later besides his fight with Mike Tyson.
In 30 years they may be a super heavyweight division. I'm against it, but it will come. Heavyweight will be capped at 225. Those over are super heavyweights. Pretty much the top ten is super heavyweights.
pound per pound wrote: ↑29 Apr 2022, 09:08
In 30 years they may be a super heavyweight division. I'm against it, but it will come. Heavyweight will be capped at 225. Those over are super heavyweights. Pretty much the top ten is super heavyweights.
For historical purposes I think the biggest division should always be called Heavyweight. "Super" is a word for children.
The cruiserweight limit has already increased from 190 to 195. Perhaps it should be 200, but 225 is not practical in my lifetime, unless you have EO's philosophy which is the bigger guy is better, which in that case you don't need a ring, only a scale.
While one of the best HW in history, Larry was also a perpetually disgruntled
abrasive individual. I think this led to the judges tanking him in the Spinks fights.
You don't dis Marciano.
So his opinion on current boxing might be a little tainted.
If you cut into the Heavyweight Division either at the bottom or the top it will
destroy boxing. Worst idea ever born out of greed by boxing organizations.
snake33 wrote: ↑29 Apr 2022, 12:46
While one of the best HW in history, Larry was also a perpetually disgruntled
abrasive individual. I think this led to the judges tanking him in the Spinks fights.
You don't dis Marciano.
So his opinion on current boxing might be a little tainted. If you cut into the Heavyweight Division either at the bottom or the top it will
destroy boxing. Worst idea ever born out of greed by boxing organizations.
pound per pound wrote: ↑29 Apr 2022, 09:08
In 30 years they may be a super heavyweight division. I'm against it, but it will come. Heavyweight will be capped at 225. Those over are super heavyweights. Pretty much the top ten is super heavyweights.
For historical purposes I think the biggest division should always be called Heavyweight. "Super" is a word for children.
The cruiserweight limit has already increased from 190 to 195. Perhaps it should be 200, but 225 is not practical in my lifetime, unless you have EO's philosophy which is the bigger guy is better, which in that case you don't need a ring, only a scale.
Maybe so. But when fat men beat the tear out of little 200-210 guys and you need to be 220 lbs to compete something has to be done. Heavyweights, almost al of the good ones are 6'4'-6'8" tall, with an 80 inch reach ,and weigh 240 pounds. If the trend continues our even widens a new divison is needed in the future.
pound per pound wrote: ↑29 Apr 2022, 09:08
In 30 years they may be a super heavyweight division. I'm against it, but it will come. Heavyweight will be capped at 225. Those over are super heavyweights. Pretty much the top ten is super heavyweights.
For historical purposes I think the biggest division should always be called Heavyweight. "Super" is a word for children.
The cruiserweight limit has already increased from 190 to 195. Perhaps it should be 200, but 225 is not practical in my lifetime, unless you have EO's philosophy which is the bigger guy is better, which in that case you don't need a ring, only a scale.
Maybe so. But when fat men beat the tear out of little 200-210 guys and you need to be 220 lbs to compete something has to be done. Heavyweights, almost al of the good ones are 6'4'-6'8" tall, with an 80 inch reach ,and weigh 240 pounds. If the trend continues our even widens a new divison is needed in the future.
There are way too many examples of guys 205 or so KOiing or beating guys >240 to mention. A lot of the smaller HWS do quite well. I am certainly not against the CW division nor it slowly increasing it's limit to address this issue. My fear is the future HW champ may be a Joe Frazier type @ 212 while the "super" HW champ may be a Buster Mathis @ 250 just to create another title where the HW champ is superior to the "super."
Wilder didn't lose to Fury because of weight, in my opinion he lost because he can't box good enough and he ran out of gas for whatever reason. That's taking nothing away from Fury.
In his last bout, Fury was under the 265 lbs mark, the one UFC uses to sanction heavyweight fights and guys like Charles Martin, Wilder, Jared Anderson don't look "little" at all. Whyte was 10 lbs lighter than Fury, also. Or do they have to cut Tyson's arms and legs now?
JxhDel. wrote: ↑30 Apr 2022, 12:50
In his last bout, Fury was under the 265 lbs mark, the one UFC uses to sanction heavyweight fights and guys like Charles Martin, Wilder, Jared Anderson don't look "little" at all. Whyte was 10 lbs lighter than Fury, also. Or do they have to cut Tyson's arms and legs now?
So this makes Andy Ruiz an unfair opponent...
Exactly. If the alphabets get their way Ruiz will be the super dupper obese champion. Wilder @ 212 -220 is washed up but he'd still drop Ruiz @ 270 like a bad habit
For historical purposes I think the biggest division should always be called Heavyweight. "Super" is a word for children.
The cruiserweight limit has already increased from 190 to 195. Perhaps it should be 200, but 225 is not practical in my lifetime, unless you have EO's philosophy which is the bigger guy is better, which in that case you don't need a ring, only a scale.
Maybe so. But when fat men beat the tear out of little 200-210 guys and you need to be 220 lbs to compete something has to be done. Heavyweights, almost al of the good ones are 6'4'-6'8" tall, with an 80 inch reach ,and weigh 240 pounds. If the trend continues our even widens a new divison is needed in the future.
There are way too many examples of guys 205 or so KOiing or beating guys >240 to mention. A lot of the smaller HWS do quite well. I am certainly not against the CW division nor it slowly increasing it's limit to address this issue. My fear is the future HW champ may be a Joe Frazier type @ 212 while the "super" HW champ may be a Buster Mathis @ 250 just to create another title where the HW champ is superior to the "super."
Wilder didn't lose to Fury because of weight, in my opinion he lost because he can't box good enough and he ran out of gas for whatever reason. That's taking nothing away from Fury.
This 100%. Usyk - a blown up cruiserweight - beat a supposed 'super heavyweight' AJ. Holyfield, who had no trouble making the old 190lb cruiserweight limit - had an epic trilogy with 6'5" Riddick Bowe and gave Lewis all he could handle in their rematch, and Holy was past his best then. Andy Ruiz could make cruiserweight if he wasn't obese.
I don't think that more weight classes would hurt boxing really. Lets get the 190s back and a 200 210 and keep the 225. Wrestling and boxing need to do a complete split, while we have 205 pound men fighting for the 290 pound championship it's not a sport.
H8Usernames wrote: ↑01 May 2022, 04:34
I don't think that more weight classes would hurt boxing really. Lets get the 190s back and a 200 210 and keep the 225. Wrestling and boxing need to do a complete split, while we have 205 pound men fighting for the 290 pound championship it's not a sport.
What if the 205 person beats the shit out of the 290 pound guy? 200, 210, and 225? Oogiebe was being generous when he called you what he called you.
Maybe so. But when fat men beat the tear out of little 200-210 guys and you need to be 220 lbs to compete something has to be done. Heavyweights, almost al of the good ones are 6'4'-6'8" tall, with an 80 inch reach ,and weigh 240 pounds. If the trend continues our even widens a new divison is needed in the future.
There are way too many examples of guys 205 or so KOiing or beating guys >240 to mention. A lot of the smaller HWS do quite well. I am certainly not against the CW division nor it slowly increasing it's limit to address this issue. My fear is the future HW champ may be a Joe Frazier type @ 212 while the "super" HW champ may be a Buster Mathis @ 250 just to create another title where the HW champ is superior to the "super."
Wilder didn't lose to Fury because of weight, in my opinion he lost because he can't box good enough and he ran out of gas for whatever reason. That's taking nothing away from Fury.
This 100%. Usyk - a blown up cruiserweight - beat a supposed 'super heavyweight' AJ. Holyfield, who had no trouble making the old 190lb cruiserweight limit - had an epic trilogy with 6'5" Riddick Bowe and gave Lewis all he could handle in their rematch, and Holy was past his best then. Andy Ruiz could make cruiserweight if he wasn't obese.
H8Usernames wrote: ↑01 May 2022, 04:34
I don't think that more weight classes would hurt boxing really. Lets get the 190s back and a 200 210 and keep the 225. Wrestling and boxing need to do a complete split, while we have 205 pound men fighting for the 290 pound championship it's not a sport.
What if the 205 person beats the shit out of the 290 pound guy? 200, 210, and 225? Oogiebe was being generous when he called you what he called you.
Ok my small friend. You have a good day now buddy.
H8Usernames wrote: ↑01 May 2022, 04:34
I don't think that more weight classes would hurt boxing really. Lets get the 190s back and a 200 210 and keep the 225. Wrestling and boxing need to do a complete split, while we have 205 pound men fighting for the 290 pound championship it's not a sport.
What if the 205 person beats the shit out of the 290 pound guy? 200, 210, and 225? Oogiebe was being generous when he called you what he called you.
Ok my small friend. You have a good day now buddy.
Notice how OO and I actually said something? Couldn't answer the question on boxing, huh?
What if the 205 person beats the shit out of the 290 pound guy? 200, 210, and 225? Oogiebe was being generous when he called you what he called you.
Ok my small friend. You have a good day now buddy.
Notice how OO and I actually said something? Couldn't answer the question on boxing, huh?
I can’t see anything written from any Oggiebe here sorry. As for what if someone beats the shit out of someone, that happens every day. I want boxing to be more of a sport and less of a wwe type of thing. That means more weightclasses. You are ofcourse free to have your opinion and you are entitled to it. If you or soome oogie feels the need to call me names for voicing mine then that's also aokay.
Ok my small friend. You have a good day now buddy.
Notice how OO and I actually said something? Couldn't answer the question on boxing, huh?
I can’t see anything written from any Oggiebe here sorry. As for what if someone beats the shit out of someone, that happens every day. I want boxing to be more of a sport and less of a wwe type of thing. That means more weightclasses. You are ofcourse free to have your opinion and you are entitled to it. If you or soome oogie feels the need to call me names for voicing mine then that's also aokay.
you're no boxing fan. Anyone who wants more weight classes is an idiot.
Notice how OO and I actually said something? Couldn't answer the question on boxing, huh?
I can’t see anything written from any Oggiebe here sorry. As for what if someone beats the shit out of someone, that happens every day. I want boxing to be more of a sport and less of a wwe type of thing. That means more weightclasses. You are ofcourse free to have your opinion and you are entitled to it. If you or soome oogie feels the need to call me names for voicing mine then that's also aokay.
you're no boxing fan. Anyone who wants more weight classes is an idiot.
Let's have a different weight division for every quarter pound. That way we'll have more champions. We can also have a super duper wupper division of 400+ pounds!
This would certainly improve the safety aspect of the sport! Might be onto something.
EO says Andy Ruiz would beat Sonny Liston. Also a 
